Water scarcity: owners of drill boring machines overcharging people

MANSEHRA: Owners of compressor drill boring machines, while taking the advantage of scarcity of potable water, have enhanced the hand pumps sinking rates from Rs600 to Rs1800 per meter.

“There is a drought-like situation here in the city and its outskirts as the underground water level dropped drastically while wells and hand pumps dried up but the drill boring machine owners tripled their sinking rates,” area resident Mohammad Arif told reporters here on Friday.

Led by Arif, a group of locals said that all three water supply schemes operated by tehsil municipal administration have stopped the water supply, leaving the entire population on the dependency of hand pumps and wells.

“As the mercury has gone up, most of the hand pumps and wells have dried up because of the prolonged dry spell,” Mr Arif said.

“Most of the people living here are poor and even the financial status of affluent families has also been adversely affected because of the coronavirus pandemic. The government should play its due role to reverse the high rates that are unjustifiable anyway,” said Arif.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan, when approached, said that he had received complaints against increase in the sinking rates being received by the compressor drill machine owners and would shortly settle the issue.